An urgent appeal for support in a time of a humanitarian crisis. 

A summary of the crisis (sourced from BBC News)

• India has seen more Covid cases in the last seven days than any other country
• A ferocious second wave has seen the official death toll surpass 200,000 - experts believe the actual number may be higher
• People have died waiting for beds, as oxygen supplies run low and hospitals crumble under the strain
• From today all adults over 18 can sign up for Covid vaccines - only 1.6% of India's population is fully vaccinated
• US President Joe Biden says he intends to send vaccines to India
• The BBC is bringing you a special day of coverage across TV, radio and digital on India's crisis (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/asia/india)
• The BBC can be seen following families as they search for oxygen for loved ones, and getting updates from areas likely to be hit hardest next

A note from Vanessa

As you may know, I am a performing arts teacher and facilitator who has been working internationally for the past 10 years. Wherever I live, I aim to give back to the communities and cultures I live amongst. I have worked and volunteered in many sectors; education, justice and rehabilitation, health care and most recently as a volunteer vaccinator.

This year has been a very different year. I am employed by, and work for, an international school in Mumbai. Due to the pandemic, we have been teaching and learning in an online setting for over 16 months now. I have been long-distance teaching these students from my base in the UK for the past year. 

Today, I am heartbroken to see the city and country that I care so much for is in such a place of emergency. Families are loosing their loved ones at an alarming rate and people are honestly worried for their lives. Speaking with my students, it is agonising to see what they are experiencing first hand, whilst knowing that I cannot be there to support my students, colleagues and families. So, I decided that I would try to help out in whatever way I could. 

British Asian Trust are a UK based charity, who are leading the ‘Oxygen for India Emergency Appeal’. This appeal will raise funds for oxygen concentrators, and together with local partners in India they will rapidly deploy them to the hospitals and patients that need them most.

HOW THEY WILL HELP (https://www.britishasiantrust.org/support-us/covid-19/oxygen-for-india/)

Having consulted with the Indian and UK governments, our Advisors and programme partners in India, we have outlined a package of support that will complement what industry, government and other charities are doing to help. The biggest difference we can make right now is to get as many ‘oxygen concentrators’ to hospitals as quickly as possible. Oxygen concentrators are alternate devices to oxygen cylinders – while cylinders contain a finite amount of oxygen supply, a concentrator continually recycles oxygen from the air and delivers it to the patient.​​​​​​

'Together, we can answer the SOS from India.'

Make a big difference with a small donation today. Even a small contribution will help.

Thank you.

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